The Way Into Mordor - Wraiths (10/9: "Always creeping, creeping.")

[sickofpalantirs]

More like great spammers think alike dain

as for the abilities, whatever floats your boat.

[DáinIronfoot]

Sorry for the lack of new cards yesterday. As you can probably tell by my general lack of activity, I was a bit busy.

Today, though, we have some tokens....

•Not Too Soon
Condition • Support Area
Maneuver: Discard a Nazgûl from hand to add a token here.
Shadow: Spot a minion and remove a token from here to add , where X is the current region number.
"‘They're for the War - and other purposes.'"

Technically reversed abilities on this card as well, but again, I think it makes the most sense in this order.

•On the Watch
Condition • Support Area
Search.
Each time you play a Nazgûl at a mountain, marsh, or plains site, you may add a token here.
Shadow: Remove 3 tokens from here to prevent a companion from being assigned to skirmish minions until the regroup phase. The Free Peoples player may return a companion to his or her hand to prevent this. Discard this condition.
"The same warning fear was on him as he had felt in the presence of the Black Riders, the helpless horror that had come with the cry in the wind and the shadow on the moon...."

I figured that if Shelob was able to strike enough fear into companions to keep them from skirmishing, why not the Nazgûl?

[Thranduil]

•Not Too Soon
Condition • Support Area
Maneuver: Discard a Nazgûl from hand to add a token here.
Shadow: Spot a minion and remove a token to add , where X is the current region number.
"‘They're for the War - and other purposes.'"

I'd prefer if the tokens could only be removed from Not Too Soon, but I'm not sure I'd ever use this card given how expensive it is to play in the first place. I'd prefer a lower initial cost for lower overall benefit. And are you planning on token reinforcement for the culture?

•On the Watch
Condition • Support Area
Each time you play a Nazgûl at a battleground, marsh, or plains site, you may add a token here.
Shadow: Remove 3 tokens from here to prevent a companion from being assigned to skirmish minions until the regroup phase. The Free Peoples player may take a companion into hand to prevent this. Discard this condition.
"The same warning fear was on him as he had felt in the presence of the Black Riders, the helpless horror that had come with the cry in the wind and the shadow on the moon...."

This could be a search card. If the Nazgûl are only watching, then I don't think battleground should be included but rather forest/mountain instead. Clearer wording is also "return a companion to its owner's hand". It's interesting, but given you have to discard it to use it it could cost .

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

•Not Too Soon
Condition • Support Area
Maneuver: Discard a Nazgûl from hand to add a token here.
Shadow: Spot a minion and remove a token to add , where X is the current region number.
"‘They're for the War - and other purposes.'"

I'd prefer if the tokens could only be removed from Not Too Soon, but I'm not sure I'd ever use this card given how expensive it is to play in the first place. I'd prefer a lower initial cost for lower overall benefit. And are you planning on token reinforcement for the culture?

It is precisely because it CAN remove tokens from anywhere that it costs so much.

No plans for reinforcement, mostly because Nazzies have Shapes Slowly Advancing, but I MAY end up creating one before I'm done. You never know.

•On the Watch
Condition • Support Area
Each time you play a Nazgûl at a battleground, marsh, or plains site, you may add a token here.
Shadow: Remove 3 tokens from here to prevent a companion from being assigned to skirmish minions until the regroup phase. The Free Peoples player may take a companion into hand to prevent this. Discard this condition.
"The same warning fear was on him as he had felt in the presence of the Black Riders, the helpless horror that had come with the cry in the wind and the shadow on the moon...."

This could be a search card. If the Nazgûl are only watching, then I don't think battleground should be included but rather forest/mountain instead. Clearer wording is also "return a companion to its owner's hand". It's interesting, but given you have to discard it to use it it could cost .

Done, done, and done!

[sickofpalantirs]

Sorry for the lack of new cards yesterday. As you can probably tell by my general lack of activity, I was a bit busy.

Today, though, we have some tokens....

•Not Too Soon
Condition • Support Area
Maneuver: Discard a Nazgûl from hand to add a token here.
Shadow: Spot a minion and remove a token to add , where X is the current region number.
"‘They're for the War - and other purposes.'"
is that lore actually in the book? thats hilarious...or maybe its just me  noice.

•On the Watch
Condition • Support Area
Search.
Each time you play a Nazgûl at a mountain, marsh, or plains site, you may add a token here.
Shadow: Remove 3 tokens from here to prevent a companion from being assigned to skirmish minions until the regroup phase. The Free Peoples player may return a companion to his or her hand to prevent this. Discard this condition.
"The same warning fear was on him as he had felt in the presence of the Black Riders, the helpless horror that had come with the cry in the wind and the shadow on the moon...."

coolio...

[lem0nhead]

•Not Too Soon
Condition • Support Area
Maneuver: Discard a Nazgûl from hand to add a token here.
Shadow: Spot a minion and remove a token to add , where X is the current region number.
"‘They're for the War - and other purposes.'"

Soooo abuseable, its a fantastic alternative to moving this way, instead of using recursion turn each 1 you dont need into bonus pool! I like it and think its balanced cos you gotta keep it on the table for use in region 3. As long as there are no more token cards. Im with Thran would rather see it say tokens from this card as its still amazing.

•On the Watch
Condition • Support Area
Search.
Each time you play a Nazgûl at a mountain, marsh, or plains site, you may add a token here.
Shadow: Remove 3 tokens from here to prevent a companion from being assigned to skirmish minions until the regroup phase. The Free Peoples player may return a companion to his or her hand to prevent this. Discard this condition.
"The same warning fear was on him as he had felt in the presence of the Black Riders, the helpless horror that had come with the cry in the wind and the shadow on the moon...."

Nice 

[DáinIronfoot]

Alright, this MIGHT be the last of the Nazgûl stuff...I've already created more for them than I thought I would be able to squeeze out of the storyline. Even if it is, though, we're far from done with the culture.

But that's for another day. For now, enjoy these!

All That They Make Out
Event • Skirmish
Spot a or minion to make a Nazgûl strength +3, or spot a Nazgûl to make a or minion strength +3.
"‘You speak of what is deep beyond the reach of your muddy dreams, Uglúk. Nazgûl! Ah!...You ought to know that they're the apple of the Great Eye.'"

As the Nazzies are not QUITE a full culture in this set, I figured a card that helped integrate them with other Shadow cultures was almost a must. Hopefully this helps do just that.

And now some mount lovin'.

Terror Far Greater
Event • Maneuver
Spot a mounted Nazgûl to add a burden. Then you may discard a mount to take this event back into hand.
"Then came a blast of savage wind, and with it, mingling with its roar, there came a high shrill shriek. The hobbits had heard just such a cry far away in the Marish as they fled from Hobbiton...."

•Black Shadows
Condition • Support Area
Response: If a mounted Nazgûl wins a skirmish, remove to capture a companion or ally in that skirmish. That Nazgûl cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase. Discard this condition.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a mounted Nazgûl strength +3.
"‘It was a Black Rider on wings, a Nazgûl. It could have taken you away to the Dark Tower.'"

[lem0nhead]

All That They Make Out
Event • Skirmish
Spot a minion to make a Nazgûl strength +3, or spot a Nazgûl to make a or minion strength +3.
"‘You speak of what is deep beyond the reach of your muddy dreams, Uglúk. Nazgûl! Ah!...You ought to know that they're the apple of the Great Eye.'"

Not the best but ok.

Terror Far Greater
Event • Maneuver
Spot a mounted Nazgûl to add a burden. Then you may discard a mount to take this event back into hand.
"Then came a blast of savage wind, and with it, mingling with its roar, there came a high shrill shriek. The hobbits had heard just such a cry far away in the Marish as they fled from Hobbiton...."

Niiiiice balanced recursion and costing.

•Black Shadows
Condition • Support Area
Response: If a mounted Nazgûl wins a skirmish, remove to capture a companion or ally in that skirmish. That Nazgûl cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase. Discard this condition.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a mounted Nazgûl strength +3.
"‘It was a Black Rider on wings, a Nazgûl. It could have taken you away to the Dark Tower.'"

Nice.

[sickofpalantirs]

Alright, this MIGHT be the last of the Nazgûl stuff...I've already created more for them than I thought I would be able to squeeze out of the storyline. Even if it is, though, we're far from done with the culture.

But that's for another day. For now, enjoy these!

All That They Make Out
Event • Skirmish
Spot a minion to make a Nazgûl strength +3, or spot a Nazgûl to make a or minion strength +3.
"‘You speak of what is deep beyond the reach of your muddy dreams, Uglúk. Nazgûl! Ah!...You ought to know that they're the apple of the Great Eye.'"
cool

Terror Far Greater
Event • Maneuver
Spot a mounted Nazgûl to add a burden. Then you may discard a mount to take this event back into hand.
"Then came a blast of savage wind, and with it, mingling with its roar, there came a high shrill shriek. The hobbits had heard just such a cry far away in the Marish as they fled from Hobbiton...."
fine

•Black Shadows
Condition • Support Area
Response: If a mounted Nazgûl wins a skirmish, remove to capture a companion or ally in that skirmish. That Nazgûl cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase. Discard this condition.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a mounted Nazgûl strength +3.
"‘It was a Black Rider on wings, a Nazgûl. It could have taken you away to the Dark Tower.'"

cool

[Thranduil]

All That They Make Out
Event • Skirmish
Spot a minion to make a Nazgûl strength +3, or spot a Nazgûl to make a or minion strength +3.
"‘You speak of what is deep beyond the reach of your muddy dreams, Uglúk. Nazgûl! Ah!...You ought to know that they're the apple of the Great Eye.'"

I would have both abilities include and or just .

•Black Shadows
Condition • Support Area
Response: If a mounted Nazgûl wins a skirmish, remove to capture a companion or ally in that skirmish. That Nazgûl cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase. Discard this condition.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a mounted Nazgûl strength +3.
"‘It was a Black Rider on wings, a Nazgûl. It could have taken you away to the Dark Tower.'"

This seems to me that it could cost .

Thranduil

[Elf_Lvr]

All That They Make Out
Event • Skirmish
Spot a minion to make a Nazgûl strength +3, or spot a Nazgûl to make a or minion strength +3.
"‘You speak of what is deep beyond the reach of your muddy dreams, Uglúk. Nazgûl! Ah!...You ought to know that they're the apple of the Great Eye.'"

Funny. "Apple of the Great Eye?" Gotta love Tolkien.

Terror Far Greater
Event • Maneuver
Spot a mounted Nazgûl to add a burden. Then you may discard a mount to take this event back into hand.
"Then came a blast of savage wind, and with it, mingling with its roar, there came a high shrill shriek. The hobbits had heard just such a cry far away in the Marish as they fled from Hobbiton...."

Pretty good, but too good, I suppose.

•Black Shadows
Condition • Support Area
Response: If a mounted Nazgûl wins a skirmish, remove to capture a companion or ally in that skirmish. That Nazgûl cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase. Discard this condition.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a mounted Nazgûl strength +3.
"‘It was a Black Rider on wings, a Nazgûl. It could have taken you away to the Dark Tower.'"

Pretty nice way to capture (and a decent strength bonus, too!) but I'd still like to see some cards that get bonuses for captured stuff.

[DáinIronfoot]

Alright, we may return to Nazgûl again later, but for now let's get to the other half of the culture. If you haven't figured out what it is yet, read on...and as always, enjoy!

Ghostly Wisp
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 8
Vitality: 2
Site: 4
Twilight.
Regroup: Spot another twilight minion or Nazgûl and discard this minion to add a burden.
"‘Cold be heart and hand and bone / Cold be travelers far from home.'"

Basically a version of Wisp of Pale Sheen, I admit. The lore even comes from the same little tale as the WoPS. But I think it works much better in the culture, so this is a semi-reprint.

Misty Flame
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 6
Vitality: 2
Site: 4
Twilight. Enduring.
Skirmish: Spot another twilight or minion and exert this minion to make a twilight minion or Nazgûl strength +1 for each burden you can spot.
"When lights appeared Sam rubbed his eyes: he thought his head was going queer. He first saw one with the corner of his left eye, a wisp of pale sheen...."

Again, very close to an existing Wraith: Corpse Lights. The key difference here is that it boosts based on burdens rather than spotting other minions, which can make it less effective early on but potentially even more abusive later.

Pale Lights
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 5
Vitality: 1
Site: 4
Twilight. To play, spot a twilight minion or a Nazgûl.
When you play this minion, you may choose one: spot 2 Nazgûl or 2 other twilight minions to add a burden; or remove a burden to make this minion fierce and damage +1 until the end of the turn.
"...others appeared soon after: some like dimly shining smoke, some like misty flames flickering slowly above unseen candles...."

Dead Ones on steroids. Need I say more?

[sickofpalantirs]

Alright, we may return to Nazgûl again later, but for now let's get to the other half of the culture. If you haven't figured out what it is yet, read on...and as always, enjoy!

Ghostly Wisp
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 8
Vitality: 2
Site: 4
Twilight.
Regroup: Spot a Nazgûl or another twilight minion and discard this minion to add a burden.
"‘Cold be heart and hand and bone / Cold be travelers far from home.'"
fine

Misty Flame
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 7
Vitality: 2
Site: 4
Twilight.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or twilight minion strength +1 for each burden you can spot.
"When lights appeared Sam rubbed his eyes: he thought his head was going queer. He first saw one with the corner of his left eye, a wisp of pale sheen...."
maybe limit +5?

Pale Lights
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 5
Vitality: 1
Site: 4
Twilight. To play, spot a Nazgûl or a twilight minion.
When you play this minion, you may choose one: spot 2 Nazgûl or 2 other twilight minions to add a burden; or remove a burden to make this minion fierce and damage +1 until the end of the turn.
"...others appeared soon after: some like dimly shining smoke, some like misty flames flickering slowly above unseen candles...."

well I don't see why anyone would ever use the second ability...works...though I don't know if you really need the to play...its essentially worthless unless you can spot 2 anyway

[Elf_Lvr]

You could probably drop Pale Lights to cost, or give it a little bit more strength.

Overall, looks good, though.

[lem0nhead]

Ghostly Wisp
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 8
Vitality: 2
Site: 4
Twilight.
Regroup: Spot a Nazgûl or another twilight minion and discard this minion to add a burden.
"‘Cold be heart and hand and bone / Cold be travelers far from home.'"

That lore will always be gollum to me not wraith. he sings it to himself when frodo is trying to talk to him about smeagol. Fine.

Misty Flame
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 7
Vitality: 2
Site: 4
Twilight.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to make a Nazgûl or twilight minion strength +1 for each burden you can spot.
"When lights appeared Sam rubbed his eyes: he thought his head was going queer. He first saw one with the corner of his left eye, a wisp of pale sheen...."

Niiiice.

Pale Lights
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 5
Vitality: 1
Site: 4
Twilight. To play, spot a Nazgûl or a twilight minion.
When you play this minion, you may choose one: spot 2 Nazgûl or 2 other twilight minions to add a burden; or remove a burden to make this minion fierce and damage +1 until the end of the turn.
"...others appeared soon after: some like dimly shining smoke, some like misty flames flickering slowly above unseen candles...."

Fair enough.